Veteran Playback Singer S. Janaki Passes Away at 88

Janaki, who had been in declining health, died at a private hospital in Mysuru on Tuesday morning, family sources said. She had been admitted there last week after a cardiac episode.

Her career, which began in the 1950s, saw her record songs for films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi, among other languages. She was particularly celebrated for her work with composers like Ilaiyaraaja and M.S. Viswanathan.

Janaki retired from playback singing in 2016, leaving behind a vast body of work that included duets with leading male singers of her era. She was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2013 and the Padma Shri in 2002.

Her last public appearance was at a function in Chennai in 2019, where she was felicitated by the Tamil Nadu government. She is survived by her son and daughter.